More Chinese Companies Keen to Invest in Sabah - Chief Minister

KOTA KINABALU (Sabah,Malaysia), June 4 (Bernama) -- Several Chinese companies have expressed an interest in investing in Sabah, particularly in tourism, agriculture and aquaculture, said Chief Minister Musa Aman. He said this was a positive sign as it would help further grow some of the state's key economic sectors. "We are open to hearing what investors are interested in. As long as the intentions are genuine, we will facilitate the creation of new businesses in Sabah," he said when launching the 3th World Youth Congress of Jiangmen, China, here on Sunday. The text of his speech was delivered by Deputy Chief Minister Dr Yee Moh Chai. Also present were Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department VK Liew, Jiangmen City Mayor Pang Guo Mei, the Mayor of Kota Kinabalu City, Abidin Madingkir and organising chairlady, Susan Wong. Musa said Sabah, Malaysia's easternmost state, was drawing investments from a range of nations with the most recent being Darden Incorporated, a seafood giant from the United States, which has committed to a US$2 billion investment to develop lobster farming in the state. He said that the chief executive officer of the company was attracted to Sabah by the stable economic and political climate, as well as the environment, which was very much in good condition. He said that Dole, another US-based food giant, had expressed an interest in developing large scale fruit and vegetable farming. In this respect, he hoped youth at the Congress would learn more about Malaysia, especially the various opportunities that they could explore in Sabah, including that on a joint venture basis. Musa said other sectors of the economy that are important for Sabah include palm oil, manufacturing and oil and gas. -- BERNAMA